Chad Spanberger

Position: 1B
Level: Class A
Affiliate: Lansing Lugnuts
League: Midwest League
Born: 11/01/1995 (Age: 28)
Height: 6'3''
Weight: 240
B/T: Left / Right
Acquired: 6th Rd., 2017 MLB First-Year Player Draft (COL); Traded to TOR 7/26/2018

Prospect Spotlight

Spanberger was Toronto’s 6th round pick in 2017 from the University of Arkansas. He has done nothing but mash his whole pro career, though he also has been old for the levels he has played at and has hit tool issues that will be challenged higher up the ladder. A South Atlantic League All-Star in his first full professional season in 2018, Spanberger was part of a two-prospect package the Rockies sent to Toronto in exchange for reliever Seung-hwan Oh.

A chiseled 6’3’’ and 235 pounds, he’s built like a slugger and has the raw power to match. It grades as a 70 tool, and Spanberger puts on shows in BP with towering flyball power to all fields. A long swing and pull-heavy approach that’s geared to pull will be exposed against high-minors arms, as I saw him beaten even by marginal fastballs in on his hands in A-Ball. Spanberger isn’t the same hitter against lefties, expanding the zone against spin and taking significantly less comfortable at-bats. He moves well at first base for a player his size, but he’s still landlocked at first and doesn’t contribute much value defensively or on the bases.

Spanberger’s left-handed power will get him to the big leagues, though the issues with same-side pitching and limited defensive value are obstacles to him fitting a full-time profile. His left-handed power can get him to the big leagues as at least a part-time masher in a platoon role.